Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-05
y STUDY IN CHINA.
BIT MARY e. WILKINS

Tl7re were very f-W houses for mile or Two;
mos u the way were apple orchards, and smooth
meadows bordsTcd by stone walls The grass IN
theos meadows wss a giiJterinc young green, and
there were groups OF golden danienOns In It.
slender young woman came slowly down the
ryad- Her poor cotton gown, Of faded pink
color. was bedrgggled with dust and dew: her
green plaid shawl, hanging half OF her shoulders
was ragged she carried In one hand great
basket eristHnZ with vases, colored glass bottles
and Little plaster images, In the other a large
bundle tied up In an Old snud-cOiOred cloth OUT
OF this last, tucked carefully between the f0ids
peeped a little bunch OF spring Towers, sneinohes
and vioIets The girl could hardly carry her Dur
dens; SAFE could scarcely put one foot before the
other and drag herself along. Every now and
then she stopped 70 rest setting her basket on the
wall and leaning herself against it
young man In a light express wagon drove
slowly along behind her, walking his horse, and
watching her curiOusiy. He was a handsome TEL
low, dressed "a coarse gray. There were gram
bags heaped up IN the back OF hts wagon. just
before he reached the woman she sank quite down
In little heap by the wall
"Drunk.~ CALCULATED the man. Then he chir-
ruped TO his horse and cried "Whoa- almost with
the same breath He threw the lines over the
horses back and sprsng out, then bent closely
over the PROSTATE figure by the wall and looked in
her face GOOD Lord!" SAID he. 'She Amt
crunk-she's In a dead faint"
There Lay the poor young creature on the green
grass, among her little plaster images and her
rags. Her face was white as death
"Poor thing!- muttered the young man, and be-
gan rubbing her hands Il wish ! had some
WATER said he.
Presently she began 10 gasp and Try 10 rise.
There, there," said ne, soothingly, holding Der
down; ale still a minute II you get night up now
yon'n faint away again. Feel sick, don't you:"
"Oh deari- groaned the girl
"Youn fsei better in a minute; Just lie still" He
continued rubbing her hands: she fixed her great
eyes on hin dazedly. "Where were you going9
asked be, presently.
"weIl, I'm going two miles that way. and m
take yeu a.ong as TAR as ] go. Were you going 10
stop along 70 sell these things:"
NO: I've got 10 go right home I'm SICK
"Well, Id go Fight home II / were you Sup
pose you can get into the wagon If 1 help you
"Id Jist as soon walk. don't want TO make no
sTroubes I guess II won't be much trouble
There, IN stow away the basket and bundle In be-
hind here. Now" He almost lifted her into the
seat, then sprang up beside her anu took the lines
she reesd when the horse started, and he caught
hod OF Rer. IF guess ! shall nave 10 hold you
IL til you get little steadier.' said ne laugh
thsy?~ - - '''''
NO
ANY one could get shook our mighty easy going
OTer the rough pieces IL they didn't sit pretty
flnl- Been away from nome louS?'
Pretty hard work travelling round this way,
,:Awi',! hard" said the girl Then she suddenly
t-'Ean bong AID crying. "oh dear! oh dear!"
~pon'i CRY. ] wuuldn'.-
Il can help it; I'm tired TO death: an il ain't
often anyhOdy treats NE The way you do. Folks
Gon I waste much Jl;y on me genera ~"
We'll they OuZht 10. It's rlore than I'd want to
DO nv scif-tramFiCC round frvm morning TIL night
have strength enough
Nv
u should think they would" The young man
SAID this In an absent way, looking ahead uneaS-
~: Ilry VET coming 20 3 mouse on the leit sue
81 the road There was a blue gI.mner cut in the
yard as they drove along: Shey could see through
the frees that II va, tue biue GreSS or girl who
was moving about there.
The orc ia thu wagon Strengthened herself up
AMI brushed her shawl crC.s her wet eyes. Don't
Won want ne 20 git out now asked she. .'Get
outs? sad the Young man. 'Wny, We haven't gone
han nile yer" SIN he look embarrassed and
doubtful.
= didn't know but you'd want me to. We're
'.what If We are: The house won't mind.
gucss.-
Il didn't know as you'd want to be seen riding
with any body ike me-
Il don't care whom I'm seen riding with as long
as they oehlEe the lselvcs; and you are doing
'.Thsre amt no need Of your holding me in, any,
how; ainI faint nom row
The young MN relaxed his grasp OF her arm
very gl1dy as they passed the hOu ie. The girl In
tue ydrO bowed aad half smiled. wi :n wondering
- dfG- WI now has Ne COt.' she seemed 10 ".
lie returned 1sT bow. raising his Rat with indie
ild so.
The CHM peddler looked half deprecatlngly,
nall curiJ sly at the girl liz the yard then at her
compaBis H. SIS that your Erls- she asked. after
tney nas passed she did not ask IL boldly at all
IaIneT/ ympathiZingly.
He .us0ed redder. looked at her half angrily.
then ne laughed. "She doesn't mean any harm, :"
gin don't want any Girls don't amount To
~ .ch- Al they care about Is new bonnets and
V.esSes.'
"Don'- you.- he said. Then he stopped suddenly.
For second he had thought OF her aud spoken TO
her a girl among other girls. But was she, this
poor. pale little creature with her basket and
bundle She was nothing Ike UIse girl whom they
had lefr behind ia the green yard. She had a
pretty flce. though he admitted that, looking at
r now more critically than he mad DONE IL was
small ami sharp. but gracefully outlined She
had pretty way Of turning her head when she
-Sie:~ said she.
.Yes, You He wished he had said nothing. 1t
Il ueser had no new dresses nor bOnnets to
know
Before lons they reached the large white farm
hou~' where Tn young man ns %. lie drove
straight ~ into the yard. dsTegIf ting the girls
Giery a. &c whether size Was not Ia be leit In tie
road \ stout, <OOd-f&cel woman opened the door
a. D. drove N.
'who have you gor there. Wells .ssrerson:" she
tho'sSht ~ Visor 1I-y that her sou seemed fairly
70 hear, IN 'Irh she only stood lOtSing, and her
tongue WIS still
~uuE'a. MOTHER, said he. with n nod and a
look wh.ca Implied, "Wait: III tel you In min
ute
Then he got ont n tn wagon. anal reached up
20 hrp "a" gtrldown You 20 night In 10 the house
and Ii down" said ne.
''Oh, Do; amt -UiI' IN
~ -, you are. you mind what say. You 90 In
and F~f ille; then III carry you WI further.
I've go -"fnn WORK % co nr,t.-
Il can walk Just a. We b.; feel better now"
"Nonsrh~e. yUu amt NJ 10 Walk Go IN
ST. ptFye,i az Last, and went In. Der head hang
ihS moe AS. Well, placed Kitchen chIA- for her,
while his mother Stool - trlny. "Sit down here,
>,ii hS. Then be bscAUned 10 his mother Slyly,
AID sue followed hlin into The next ron.
~ hat hey you brought that woman her for,
Wells: don't want % buy anything OF her.
81 came aCTo~- her "a dead faint :. miles below
here, ami took her IN. It's nay opinion shes
about hair Starved: she looks Ike it. / want YOU
TO give her some breasII-t. ana Dy-and-l,y I'm 90
lag 10 take her On again. She's on The wsty q
Boston, and I've got - 70 as far as ASllanl .sEd
She Hl-ut a. wei, ride
Mrs JcferSOn'S eyes as she fixed them on her
son werr LARRY severe with Benevolent intent and
calculation.
81 could warm up the coffee, ana eUok her
pisre 81 beef-Jsak.'
Il wOuld.-
Mrs. jefferson was kindly. dogInatir- woman
NAe Delighted IA beng charitable. but - - wished
the recipients % her CuaTIy q -p,- OF it a. sac
uct tied y 0ud better cat the rsf OF O. at bread
aLd butter with your meat, she told ne iitil,
Na-'-w .fnal; ana she ate Il. VI :. Jeffer an Ques
TONED AeT closely: then she went out ana i'm
porVed the rt>ut 20 her son. she SAYS Pr nam,
i Louis DurIeC, she t0lu MIN. IL nOtt sad thai
Attle bunch OF flowers she had in her bun tie: anC
sue SAID she laeu npwor--~ns used 20 liy tbs
country. Hcr f"lk> lived down Norfolk war Whef
~ Va hlli rfcA0n tnev was always i ,@ anC